Kylebrack Woods - Doe A Deer, A Poor Dead Deer!

15 June, 2025 - Martin Cooney

Kylebrack Woods - Doe A Deer, A Poor Dead Deer!
By Martin Cooney

A dry, humid morning greeted me as I prepared for my trip to South East Galway. Being Ewan Cunningham’s (Rob & Tricia’s Son) first race as a Race Director, I knew a good contingent from IMRA Munster going head up to support him for what was the IMRA Galway League’s first race of the year. I waited for a phone call from Frankie Coughlan to see where we were to meet. The phone call came, a meeting point arranged and off I took. After 15 minutes, I pulled in off the motorway, picked up the leg-end and off we went again. From Gort, we took the back roads through places like Derrybrien & Ballynakill and other small (getting smaller) communities of South East Galway. It is wild, rugged terrain around here; filled with dampness in the air.

After about an hour, we landed in Kylebrack and spotted the IMRA Munster van at the edge of the woods. Just fifty metres away and across the road from the woods was a lovely little pub called The Hill Bar. We parked up outside the pub; we went across the road and checked in for the race. Off for a little trot to see what the start/finish of the course would be like. Back to my van, we got changed into the running gear. Off for a bit of a warm-up, then back to the start to await the race briefing from Ewan. There was a good crowd up from Munster with special mention to a guy with a West Waterford singlet, the West Cork trio of Michael McSweeney, Sean Leonard and Henry Browne (Michael travelling 4 hours to get here) as well as Joan Ryan, Loretto Duggan, Edel Hennessy, Aidan Hogan, Martin Hennessy and Mairead O’Keeffe & a few lads from Dublin direction, notably Vivian O’Gorman.

Ewan’s race brief was similar to Rob’s race briefs, which are brief!
“Follow the Red/White Tape, if an arrow indicates right, well go right!” Simple really but you’d be amazed how some people can get that wrong!
Anyway; 3, 2, 1, Go and away we went. Like a herd of cattle after being let into a field after a long cooped-up winter, the group of runners set off at a really good pace. We veered left on the fire-road and up a gentle slope. Henry and a few others were setting a good pace but out of nowhere, one lad took off as if he had stolen something. He powered away into a lead- I am not sure if he knew the race was 11km but either way, he was going to struggle keeping up that pace. Up the gentle hill for about 800 metres we all go, I reckon I am in about 12th place. We get turned in left & left again at a junction by a volunteer and Aileen Field. And then the fun just starts. We go into a single-track wooded section which is the closest thing to a rollercoaster. I am behind the leg-end Frankie C but once he hears me coming, he moves out of the way and lets me through as he knows the sort of terrain suits me. It meanders left, right, up and down through the trees for about 500 metres. I pass a couple of runners before popping out on a road and crossing it into another more defined track in the woods. This track turns right and heads up a slight slope before flattening.

I am just behind Rob Cunningham as the track narrows and all the runners in front of us go into single file like lemmings. I could see a marshal about 30 metres in front of us… Next thing Rob stops and says “they are all going the wrong way, it’s a left here!” He should know as he had run it last week and probably helped Ewan mark the course. “Are you sure?” I said. For a moment he hesitated even though we could see red/white tape in there- instead we went on and passed by the marshal and into another lovely single track wooded section. Rob & Frankie C followed on as I tried to catch the runners in front of me who by now were about twenty metres ahead of me. I powered on as best I could through the meandering section to narrow the gap on the runner in front of me. After 600 metres or so, we came out onto a road and turned right. Down along a fire-road for another couple of hundred metres, the group of frontrunners went. All of a sudden, they all stopped. There was a huge confusion before the leaders came trotting back up the same road. “The marshal sent us back, we’ve gone wrong” shouted one runner.

A minute of confusion ensued before Rob Cunningham beckoned us to come back and we all headed back into the woods. It got a little confusing because some of the leading pack were now behind some of the people in the teen and twenties places. If we called Rob C the leader at this point, then I was about 20th position. As we trotted back, some great jokes and comments were being passed amongst the runners which lightened the mood of the race. At any chance I got, I passed runners so that I could get closer to Rob C so that when got back on the right track, I would be in a decent position. I was just behind Michael McSweeney, Sean Leonard and Mairead O’Keeffe. We were going at a nice pace but in a moment, something happened! It was like a blur and time stopped for a moment- something shot out from the trees on the right-hand side and passed in front of Mairead. The next thing I see is a young deer on my left-hand side lying on its back, all four legs facing upwards!!
Either one of two things just happened; Mairead who owns her own Health-Food & Holistic Shop (New Leaf) had either collided with this young deer or else she had done some sort of Reiki technique to it. Either way, Mairead was still moving but the deer wasn’t! Sean Leonard fired back some sort of comment of acknowledgement but Mairead said that she was fine… but was the deer??

“Down and in here” shouted Rob. The marshal who had been in the wrong location; was now in the correct location and as everyone passed all I could hear was “I’m sorry…sorry about that… I’m sorry… jeez, I’m really sorry”. The poor soul had a sheepish look on their face as I passed- “sorry” I heard again. Not a bother I thought to myself, aren’t we just getting more value for our entry fee…
I imagine when all the runners had passed through; the marshal pulled a bunch of nettles and started thrashing themselves with them trying to seek forgiveness, but this one of the easiest mistakes that could happen.

So we were back on track in yet another meandering single track in the trees and there was a real fun feeling amongst the group, as the race was now to the wind. No-one really knew where anyone was so I got back into race mode and passed anyone I could. I passed Mairead on the outside through the trees; being careful that I was not going to be her next victim to whatever had went on minutes before. I then got passed Michael and Sean and then Edel Hennessy; who jokingly asked me who would I like held up so that I can gain ground on the rest.
I was now behind Martin Hennessy and Henry Browne. It was only about 400 metres through this single tracked section but it was class. Martin let me pass him and on I went, next thing I passed another runner before coming out onto a fire-road. I could see Henry in front of me but no-one else. As I took a right turn and started up a slope on this fire-road, Henry and I passed other runners. These must have been runners who didn’t make the same mistake that the leaders did. I passed them and we all greeted each other as we ran along this road for about a kilometer. Then into another single-track section for almost a kilometer before coming back out onto another section of fire-road. I pass Vivian O’Gorman who has a very surprised look on him, maybe because for a while, he was leading the race unknowingly. As I advanced up this fire-road, I was caught by a runner and then another 2 runners joined and passed me as we crossed some sort of minor road which had 2 marshals on it. The marshals indicated that Henry was in 1st place so that would make me in 5th position, having been in 2nd coming out of the woods.

Up the fire-road for another 300m, we get turned left by a marshal. I look at my watch knowing that we should have about 5km; but my watch is reading nearly 7km, which means that there is almost 2km extra already. We go back into another section of single track through the woods; this course is awesome. It meanders and weaves in, out and around the trees, at one point going over some trees and boulder rocks- this course is a running rollercoaster. By now; I can just about see the lads in 2nd to 4th position but Henry is long out of sight. I head down into a steeper descent and pop out on a fire-road where I am greeted by a very happy marshal, who tells me that I am doing great. How do you define doing “great” on a course like this; not being lost (which already happened), not having branches as part of your body, no blood on your body; human, deer or otherwise… anyway back on this gravel road, I am starting to feel it now, my legs are getting heavy as I inch my way up the road. I can see the 3 runners ahead of me. I glance back but cannot see anyone behind me within 200 metres anyway. This road starts to incline and curve right up a hill. I pass a marshal on my left- I shout out to him “can you see anyone behind me?”; “Nobody so far chief” is the response which means I have about 300 metres at least on the runner in 6th place. I reach the top of this hill where I meet a marshal who turns me left along another fire-road.

Up the road for 300 metres, I have to turn left and into a single track, I glance over my left shoulder to see if there are any runners catching up to me. I spot 2 runners, one in a white top which I presume to be Frankie C and the other runner is in a red top, who I presume to be Michael McSweeney. Into this track, I move as fast as my tired legs will take me. I pop out onto a fire-road turning right. Up this road for about 500 metres before being turned right by the original “You’re Off Course” marshal. Slowly I am catching one of the runners who is in front of me.
Up this road for about 200 metres, turn left an now I am back on the section where we originally went off-course so I know what is coming next… some single track weaving through the woods, some mud, a dead deer and a marshal thrashing themselves with a bunch of nettles!!

Into the single track- weave, dodge, meander over roots, mud, trees, low branches and I am just waiting to have to hop over the dead deer, which never comes. I am catching the runner in front of me- he is only about 5 metres in front of me. He is moving well but looks like it is not his most favorable terrain. Next thing I hear is a roar and the runner winches in pain- he looks to have rolled his ankle not once, but twice! He stops and drops to the ground. I ask if he is okay and he says he is okay so I tell him I will say it to the nettle-thrashing marshal who I am next to meet, if it is not a dead deer. I arrive at the ever forgiving marshal, who puts down her bunch of wilting nettles to direct me left. I shout to her about the injured runner, which she acknowledges. The next 800 metres are twists and turns before popping out on a fire-road with a marshal with a first-aid kit. I know where I am now, back at the top of the first incline of the race so only 800 metres of fire-road to go. I open out my stride as best I can knowing that I should hold my position. I glance back and see no-one but also I can see no-one in front of me. My legs are tiring but I can hear voice just as I corner the last turn and hold my pace right through to the finish. Exhausted but completely satisfied with a 4th place finish considering the quality of runners in the race.

Over the next 10 minutes, a steady stream of runners crosses the finish line. Then the rain hits so Frankie C and I head over, get over gear and get changed. The Hill Bar has sandwiches, cakes, wraps as well as hot tea/coffee and a full bar for those wanting to quench their thirst. A great buzz in the post-race venue; if all the Galway League is like this, it will be a resounding success!
There were laughs, stories, tall tales, even fat-shaming and just being old taunting (in the most West Cork way). Even the poor Holistic Shop owner was verbally teased that Salt and Vinegar crisps don’t go with venison, but rather Cheese and Onion!

Congrats to Henry Browne on his race win & to whoever was the first lady (this report was written before race results went up). Congrats to Ewan Cunningham on his first RD, a massive success, helped also by all of his family. Thanks to the volunteers for giving up their day to let us all run. To the most apologizing volunteer in IMRA, I hope the nettle stings have eased by this morning but if it wasn’t for you, the race wouldn’t have taken on such a happy buzz!

Finally; to clear up one matter- no actual deer was harmed, maimed, stunned, killed or otherwise during the making or running of this race. This was simply writer’s discretion to enhance a minor incident into a major turning point for entertainment purposes only!
However; there was a passing deer at that location and it did frighten the sh*te out of us!